New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-12
CHIEF. JUSTICE CHASEs- APPOINTMENT

JUSTICE FIELD TELLS HOW 1T CAME TO RE MADE.
In the following statement nclosed In letter to Mr..
Dom Pat Justice Field OF the Supreme Court corecs
the errors in Mr. Pats report OF their conversation
the appointment OF Mr.. Chase Chief Justice, which
appeared in the January number of The North American
Rericw:
Tn the spring of 1864 Chief Justice fancy was taken
very Ill and reported to be dying The speedy
gestions to his probable successor In the previous
majority Of the JastiGes At the Instance Of Mr.
coin that IN case OF vacancy II sne Tce to e
% as Ssn to tns But
time 1854 Mr. Justice Miller and myself had some con-
versaon the subject Of the succession and We both
the proper for the place. as he was familiar with
all the questions out Of which had grown the civil war
and was acquainted with all the legislation OF Congress
during its progress and with the new revenue and cur
rency systems in particular For these reasons and he
considered his appointment to be very desirable We did
not make any comparison between him and MT. Justice
ewayne for whose qualifications and character we had
the highest appreciation Our preference Tor Mt Chase
was based on the grounds have stated On the same
day, while walking on Pennsylvaniaave. toward Will
lards HOTEL met Mr. Chase. and after the ordinary sal
natons. asked him how he would IKE to be Chief Jus.
tice He seemed surprised ut the reson ana asked me
had Of the condition OF Chief Justice Taney and Of the
Stating that Mr. Justice Miller and myself had suggested
his the Chief Justices successor. He replied
IDENTIFY interested in the suggestion for he turned and &C
companed me far willards Hotel In the course OF
ner on the subject replied had not, but that
would see him immediately. Mr.. Sumner then lived at
and found him at his desk surrounded BY papers told
him my object in calling; He replied. - VIII gee me
President at once aud Immediately rose rom the tabe
and lett the house for that purpose
Chief Justice fancy recovered from his Illness ana the
end Of the the term called to pay my respects 70 DID
found him exceedingly feeble: so much 90 that wnen I
hin my ss a aeS b@ 9 an pned
by the thought that was probably looking upon ms
venerable face for the last time went Immediately
from his residence to the White House 10 see tne res
dent ( found him engaged with Mr. Holt. and ap.
parently absorbed in the matter wcn was the supect
OF their consultation. remarked that had called 10
paw INV respects before leaving for California and also
say that in all probability before the nea. ten 81 se
sorfe SSe Jnst a and that desired
words to him on that lbiect He then asked me II l
could not remain In the city gay LONGER lot puu
10 see him at IL o'clock the next day Az our
on that day. he said. before mentioned ME- o9s, %
name suppose you favor the appointment OF mr.
Chase to the Chief Jusceship" He probably got that
impression from his interview with MT sumner wh9
With me- about month before The President then
asked how the profession would take tue app
of r Chase and said he entertained very hlgn re-
gard for him He also remarked that there we're parties
who were endeayoring u " put up a oar pet"seI mn
and Mr. Chase, but that he would not icy tne h Mn
sprague would like the appointment OF her ta,her .he
he had heard the remark attributed to her tha hr eer
was not Ia he set aside by place on tDe penrn ~
that inoury made no reply The Impression left upon
my mind from that conversation was that ne was faor
ably disposed Chases appointment az 10
bief Istice fancy some weeks afterward Mr.. fancy
died Mr. Chase appointed to succeed MN. ana ms
appointment was unanimously cohnrmeu ny uo 0e""''
without the usual reference 10 a committee. +. ,,-
You Will thus that you inaccurate In making
say that we-meaning suppose Sasu zee,
party in behalf OF Justice Swayne as Che
Justice fancy that knew that he was not tne man
for the po,ition and that President Lincoln toiu nc
omnoini CHASE STEPHEN j. FIELD